@Shiichan: Gomen about the lack of Eri. The previous chapter got a little long so I cut it off her section

@Kuro-san: Is it ok to call you this? Chilling? I never thought I’ll see that as a description for their relationship

but it’s a good POV
@Sticky: You asked to be called this instead right? So there you go

Did you grab that CD in the end? Ooooh? Who are you gonna try that stunt with? And woah at that vid you put up. That guy does sound very much like a girl.
@Sukoshi-chan: Who said anything about killing people off? I might decide to be good for once

@Badsaints: *Gasps* You don’t want a TakaGaki??? What is the world coming to

@kRisZ: Looks like I managed to achieve the shock effect with that last line

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Merry Go Round Chapter 15 The room was dark and quiet with only the low sounds of steady breathing. Although I knew you weren't a light sleeper, I still didn't dark to shift too much in case you woke up. I didn't want you to discover that I was weeping. Crying over how I knew you didn't feel the same for me.
I was the well known aho of the group, the crazy, forgetful, clumsy and flippant member. However, in spite of all these undesirable traits, I knew there was one thing that I excelled over all the others. It was my heart. It was forgiving, caring and sensitivity.
I never told anyone, not even Sayumi. But I knew that you were drifting further and further away from me with each passing day. Clearly, you had accepted my love without realizing your true feelings of affection for another.
My heart isn't blind Ai-chan. I know the one you love is Gaki-san. And I love her dearly too. But only as a friend.
Yet fate likes to work in mysterious ways and on most occasions, seems to relish tormenting people. I don't know when or how but I fell hard for you. And no matter how I tried, I couldn't not have you by my side. That was why I confessed my love. I didn't have high hopes that you would reciprocate.
When you agreed to go out with me, to become my girlfriend, my heart leap with immense joy. I couldn't believe it was real. And maybe I shouldn't have. Then perhaps I wouldn't be in so much pain now. If only I hadn't started turning this wheel of complex relationships.
Slowly, I began to feel your nervousness whenever you were around me. The way you didn't dare look me in the eye and how you would tense up whenever I came too close. It hurt me to see you react like this and I would hide and cry myself to sleep every night.
I knew you would be happy again if I released you from this relationship that was causing you so much stress. Nevertheless, I couldn't bring myself to let you go, not after knowing how it feels to have you belong to me.
Forgive me for being selfish Ai-chan. Forgive me for being cruel. But I will do everything I can, to keep you with me. Closely my eyes and gradually falling asleep, I let my head loll near yours, feeling the comforting heat emitted from your light breathing. Snaking my arm around your well toned abs, I pulled you near and whispered in a pleading tone.
"Don't leave me Ai-chan. Never let me go."
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It was pretty late in the night and most of the streets were deserted. The only lights came from a convenience store located on the street opposite from where I was brisk walking. I must have looked rather comical with the lopsided grin plastered on my face. I wasn't really smiling to anyone in particular. I guess my vibrant beam was a consequence of the enjoyable time I had spent with Sayumi earlier.
Tucking my hands deep into my pockets as a chilly breeze blew past, I increased my speed to a slow jogged in the direction of home. The temperature had been falling steadily ever since I dropped Sayumi at her place and I couldn't wait to get home and jump into a hot tub filled with warm water for my daily bath.
Unexpectently, I saw a familiar figure waiting outside the front door of my apartment block as I approached the entrance. Surprised to see her so late in the night, I called out to her and waved.
"Tanakacchi, what are you doing here?"
Reina didn't reply my question, nor did she offer a greeting. Turning to face me with a stony gaze, she muttered.
"Did you send Aika to spy on me?"
It took a while for her accusation to sink in and when I realized what she had said, I started to speak, trying to explain the reason behind my actions.
"Listen Tanakacchi, it isn't what you think."
"What am I supposed to think?! You told a junior to spy on me! Is that what a sub-leader should be doing? Is that what a friend should be doing?!"
Putting my hands up to calm Reina down, I shook my head frantically.
"I didn't tell her to spy! I told her to keep an eye on you. And let me know if you ran into some trouble."
"And that's not spying?!"
Glaring me in a manner I have never seen her exhibit, Reina stared at me with so much hatred that I could almost feel the impact of it hitting me, ramming into my chest and making it difficult to breath.
I couldn't handle this on my own Tanakacchi. I couldn't ask Ai-chan because knowing her, she'll think it's better for management to handle this. But I didn't want to jeopardize the current situation. I wanted to see if I could get you to stop your smoking addition first. I knew Aika could be trusted. She was a smart kid, and she adored you too much to tell on you. Despite the numerous logical explanations running though my mind, I couldn't articulate a single one of them. Standing helplessly in front of the seething you, my mouth opened and closed like a fish and I was for once, rendered speechless.
Seeing my lack of a response, you retorted bitterly.
"Why the silence sub-leader, cat got your tongue?"
Laughing at the irony of your words with tears welling up in your eyes, you continued.
"I never knew you thought so little of me. You couldn't be bothered to ask me if you wanted to know something? Getting Aika to do the leg work... You're too low!"
Throwing down that heartless sentence, you spun around without looking back and marched off. As your retreating back grew smaller, my brain finally decided to kick in and I pulled my feet off the pavement, sprinting after you.
"Tanakacchi!"
I grabbed your arm and whirled you around to face me. On reflex, you raised one hand and slapped me across the face. The force of it snapped my head sideways and I could taste blood in my mouth. You appeared shocked when she saw the trickle of red drip from the corner of my lip. Nevertheless, you didn't stop struggling to wriggle out of my grasp.
Feeling you gradually slip away, I realized I had to do something right now or you would probably never give me the opportunity to speak to you again. Such was the strength of your character. Using all of my strength, I pushed the smaller you backwards until you were trapped between me and the wall of my condo.
"God just listen to me for once Tanakacchi! I know about your smoking. But I'm too crap to solve this by myself. That's why I roped Aika in to help. It's not like I did something unforgivable. Why must you make such a big deal about it?"
Maybe it was due to being so stupefied earlier. This time the words came tumbling out like water from a freed dam and when I had finished speaking, I finally realized how close to you I was. I had somehow pressed up against you while trying to keep you from escaping. And my lips were currently separated from yours by less than two centimeters.
"Gomene!"
Stepping back to give you some space but not enough to release you completely, I glanced swiftly at your face, not daring to look at you directly. It was an awkward moment for both of us.
"Your intentions might be right but it doesn't change the fact that you hurt me."
In a sudden movement, you pushed against me roughly until I staggered back. Keeping your line of sight on the ground, you muttered before taking off.
"Do you know what it's like to have the person you love find you that unimportant that she isn’t concerned enough to find out about you?"
Left alone again in the continually falling temperatures, my jaw slackened and I gaped at what the youngest Rokkie in the group had confessed.
"Tanakacchi....loves...me?"
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"Ohayo Sayu!"
I heard a call out to me and before I looked up, I knew who the owner of the voice was straightaway.
Eririn. "Ohayo~!"
I smiled sweetly but my smile hardened when I noted the unmistakable scene of your linked hands. You were gripping onto Ai so tightly. It was as though you were afraid leader would disappear if you let go.
Remembering my manners, I greeted Ai and she did the same to me before we all resumed preparing for the concert rehearsal. Today was the final run though for the concert held over the upcoming weekend and it was crucial that everything proceeded perfectly according to plan.
I had just finished tying my long hair into a side pony tail when Aika burst into the room in a frenzy.
"Michi--shi--ge...san...did...you see..Nii--ga-ki and Ta--naka...san?"
"Woah breath Aika, they have not come in yet. What's the emergency?"
The sixteen year old clammed up when I asked why she was so desperate to find the two. Obviously she wasn't keen to tell me and found all sorts of excuses to run off. I am so gonna to interrogate Risa when she arrives.
It's funny how when you talk about someone they appear. Because immediately after I thought that to myself, Risa entered the dressing room with Reina stalking in front of her. Yes, the word is stalking as the yankii looked as though she would bite off anyone's head if they as much as met her gaze.
"I don't want to speak to you right now."
I heard Reina telling that to Risa in a most crude manner and I quirked an eyebrow at the tone that she took. Hello? This was sub-leader she was behaving so defiantly to.
"Umm Gaki-san? We have to run."
Interjecting into the conversion was Ai. And she too looked uncomfortable in Risa's presence. Finding the state of events rather weird, I observed the uneasy looks on all three of their faces.
What exactly was going on? -----
Uh-oh, I knew I was in for it this time. Tanaka-san seemed really mad. She won't even speak to Niigaki-san. This means that she isn't going to forgive me for a long, long time. Who am I going to go to for fashion advice now? And who can I 'date' to go watch the latest movies? Most importantly, she won't allow Niigaki-san and I to help her get rid of that smoking problem. Yabai..
The music that we were rehearing to was so loud that I could barely hear myself think. Even if there was a storm raging outside at the moment I wouldn't be able to detect it. Running through the dance steps like clockwork, I was only paying partial attention to the ongoings around me. This was until the sound system shut off out of the blue and the distraught voice of a staff worker boomed out over the speakers.
"The stage lamp! Take cover!"
Nine heads shot up in that instant and we were paralyzed when we watched a piece of stage equipment break off from the batten attached to the ceiling. It was fortunate that the majority of us wouldn't be in the way of the light when it crashed down judging from its position high above us. This was true for the most of us except for the four standing in the middle of the formation.
Like a film put in slow motion, I stared open mouthed at the instrument that hurled towards my senpais. When it smashed down, I crouched and covered my head with my hands, squeezing my eyes shut as the glass from the shattered bulbs flew all around me...
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I didn't specify who the girls behind the different POVs were but they should be pretty easy to guess? Happy reading
